Pumpkin Scissors: The Complete Series

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All Rise...

Judge Steve Power urges fans of good anime to ignore the bizarre title and read this review!

The Charge

"It's not how you're born, it's how you live…"—Cpl.
Randel Oland

Opening Statement

From the creative minds at Studio Gonzo (Last Exile) comes an original series that
presents a unique spin on war and humanity. It wears its anime heart on its
sleeve, and hiding beneath the silly title is a series that just might be worth
your attention…if you like this sort of thing.

Facts of the Case

Pumpkin Scissors drops us into a fictional European Empire, in the
aftermath of a Great War that bears a strong resemblance to World War I. The
Empire has established a special unit within Army Intelligence known as Section
III. This rag-tag group of desk jockeys and misfits serves as something of a PR
and propaganda unit under the guise of War-Relief, until their new field
commander—the idealistic and naïve Lieutenant Alice
Malvin—makes it the team's purpose to right the wrongs of the war and help
society rebuild. On one particular outing, they meet Randel Oland, a gentle
giant and veteran soldier, who belonged to a secret unit that specialized in
Infantry vs. Tank combat. His combat prowess seems fueled by the lantern he
carries on his belt, a lantern that, when lit, emits an eerie blue glow and
turns him into a zombie-like killing machine.

With the Empire hanging in the balance, it's up to Alice to uncover a vast
conspiracy and shed the light of justice on a corrupt bureaucracy and their
covert experiments during the war.

The Evidence

All I knew about Pumpkin Scissors going into this was that it had a
ridiculous title. It's the kind of title that would have kept me from ever
glancing at or taking any interest in viewing the series. Shallow? Maybe, but
come on…Pumpkin Scissors? It's a mistake anyone could make. Hell, I doubt
you're even reading this review, having made a cursory glance at a ridiculous
title while scrolling through your RSS feed, the Verdict's daily newsletter, or
perusing the front page. I can't blame you. However, silly title aside, I assure
you, Pumpkin Scissors should not be ignored.

At the forefront is the overreaching plot about a division of secret
soldiers from the "Great War" called The Invisible 9, and who was
responsible for their creation. As the series moves on, we discover more and
more about the hulking behemoth that is Randel Oland and his connection to the
9. The main plot does often take a back seat to episodic storytelling which
gives us a window into the world these characters inhabit. The majority of time
is spent dealing with how society at large has been affected and continues to
suffer, even years after the armistice was signed. These are often dramatic
plots that work well, even though they come off as a little heavy handed at
times. Of course there are some great action scenes to go along with the drama,
but the rapid pace of the first few episodes can be a little misleading, as
things settle down after that and the action becomes intermittent.

The main protagonists, Randel and Alice, are given a hefty amount of focus,
from Alice's struggles with her noble born family to Randel's dark past as a
walking superweapon. The other members of the unit all get their time to shine
as well, and by the end of the series you'll find yourself pretty attached to
them. There's definitely enough meat on these bones to keep you entertained.
While there have been comparisons made to Fullmetal Alchemist—and I can partially
agree—Pumpkin Scissors is a different beast that stands on its
own.

After Last Exile, Basilisk, and
Samurai 7, Gonzo has established itself as one of the stronger creative
forces in modern anime, and the quality of work present in many of their shows
puts them a few notches above most of their peers. Pumpkin Scissors only
helps in cementing their rep as top notch artists and animators, character
designers, and writers. Funimation's treatment of this set serves the source
material well. The transfer is solid, with no real glitches or hang-ups to speak
of, and the sound mix is fine though not spectacular. The English dub, provided
by ADV Films for the original DVD release, isn't top drawer, but it's well
written and casted.

The Rebuttal Witnesses

The story here, while definitely well executed for an Anime TV series,
doesn't really do much to forward the genre, and many of the quirks and offbeat
humor that come with the Anime parcel are in full effect. People less used to
typical Anime storytelling may be confused or frustrated by the sudden and often
bizarre tonal shifts. The show may be dealing with important issues in one
scene, and shift to a joke about Randel's *ahem* manhood when a frustrated nurse
attempts to secure a Urine sample in the next. Then there's Section III's
faithful pooch/courier, which happens to have a penchant for biting people's
heads. Yes, it's bizarre and jarring, but it's Anime, for better or for worse.
The series also lays the ending on rather abruptly, and while the last three
episodes are devoted to a resolution, it still feels like it kind of sneaks up
on you, and leaves you a little wanting for more (though that's probably a good
sign rather than a bad one.)

Pumpkin Scissors has no real extras to speak of, just a textless
opening and ending.

Closing Statement

Pumpkin Scissors doesn't do much that would endear itself to anyone
but your average Anime fan. It's got that typically Japanese sense of offbeat
humor, and yet beneath the silly name and clichéd comedy lays an endearing
group of characters, a refreshingly engaging premise, and a final act that
leaves me hungry for more. Studio Gonzo again proves that they're one of the
most creative forces in this particular industry.